Pellston woman to be sentenced for drug charges May 7

April 29, 2010|By Christina Rohn News-Review Staff Writer

Maribeth Ann Lauer, 21, of Pellston, who recently pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor drug charges in connection to the discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory in Harbor Springs, is scheduled for sentencing next week.

A Pellston woman, who recently pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor drug charges in connection to the discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory in Harbor Springs, is scheduled for sentencing next week.

Maribeth Ann Lauer, 21, was arrested Feb. 16 by deputies from the Emmet County Sheriff’s Department, along with Brian Keith Haag, 40, of Petoskey and Christopher Howard Greenier, 28, of Alanson, after police investigated a possible probation violation at Haag’s apartment and allegedly found Lauer, Haag and Greenier in possession of narcotics.

While Haag was being interviewed in a police cruiser outside his residence, he informed sheriff’s deputies that he had knowledge of an operating meth lab in Harbor Springs.

As a result of this information, police executed several search warrants in pursuit of the meth lab, which resulted in the arrest of a mother and son renting a home at 1162 Tower Road, as well as a search of Lauer’s father’s home — James Lauer — where a marijuana growth operation was discovered.

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James was charged with several drug charges as a result of this investigation, and is also facing a possible murder charge in Antrim County as a result of his alleged delivery of drugs to a 27-year-old Kalkaska woman in September 2009, causing her death.

Maribeth, who was originally charged with two counts of possession of (cocaine, heroin or other narcotic) less than 25 grams, both four-year felonies; one count of jails - prisoner possessing contraband, a five-year felony; and one count of possession of marijuana, a one-year misdemeanor, with second, or subsequent offender notices attached to each charge, doubling the maximum penalty, was able to have several of these charges dismissed after striking a deal with the Emmet County Prosecutor’s Office.

During a plea hearing last month in 90th District Court, Maribeth agreed to aid the prosecutor’s office by testifying in her father’s cases, as well as the cases against both Haag and Greenier.

In exchange, Maribeth was able to plead guilty to two, one-year misdemeanors — possession of marijuana and use of Fentanyl — while the remaining charges against her were dropped.

Maribeth is now scheduled for sentencing at 9 a.m. May 7 in district court.

Christina Rohn

439-9398 - crohn@petoskeynews.com

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